Rizzo Mum On Speculation He Might Run For Mayor In '87

November 22, 1985|The New York Times

Frank L. Rizzo, the former police chief who provoked controversy when he was mayor from 1972 to 1980, is back in the public eye here as a possible candidate to challenge Mayor W. Wilson Goode for his old job.

Goode, who is widely perceived as being politically vulnerable as a result of the police bombing of a house occupied by the radical group MOVE last May, has said he plans to run for a second term in 1987. The bombing caused a fire that killed 11 members of MOVE and destroyed 61 nearby homes.

The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News, quoting sources in local political circles, reported Wednesday that Rizzo was considering running for his old seat.

Some politicians here saw these reports as a trial balloon, some said they thought the articles were meaningless, and some, including at least one close ally and supporter of Goode, said they thought Rizzo was serious.

"I'm not going to comment," Rizzo said when asked about the reports yesterday. "I have an open mind, and I'm just going to sit back and mind my own business for a while, and I'll make a decision later on."

Joe Vignola, a Democrat who this month won re-election as city controller, described the reports as "just talk." He said, "It makes good press," and he described Rizzo as someone "with time on his hands and a telephone to use."

Goode had no comment on the reports, according to his press secretary, Karen Warrington.

But City Councilman Lucien Blackwell, a close ally and supporter of Goode's, said: "We've been hearing rumors for some time that he was contemplating running, and now I believe it. But I don't think he can defeat Mayor Goode. In fact, he'd probably be his easiest opponent."

Rizzo, barred by the city charter from running for a third consecutive term in 1979, was succeeded by William J. Green. When Rizzo sought to regain his old job in 1983, Goode defeated him handily in the Democratic primary and went on to be elected Philadelphia's first black Mayor. He received 53 percent of the primary vote to Rizzo's 43 percent.

Some people active in politics here say that over the last year Rizzo has been talking about running again, and that the talk accelerated after the bombing and fire in May. But the same analysts say they believe that blacks and liberal whites would turn out heavily to vote against him, as they did in 1983.

There has been speculation that Rizzo might not choose to challenge Goode in the Democratic primary in 1987, but might instead run as a Republican in that year's general election. Rizzo would be 67 then.

Among other possible contenders in 1987 are Vincent Fumo, a Democratic state senator; and John Egan, a Republican defeated by Goode in the 1983 general election. Also mentioned are District Attorney Edward Rendell and G. Fred DiBona, president of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.